TOWIE favourite Pete Wicks has revealed he's quit the reality TV show after seven years.
The star, 34, is stepping away because he believes he has outgrown the ITVBe series.
A source told MailOnline: "Pete is a hugely loved member of Towie both among viewers and the cast.
"But it's time for him to move on now, he's slightly older than the rest of the cast, and he's hoping to achieve more in his career after being on the show for such a long time.
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"It's been a monumental stint and his storylines will go down in T history but for now he's taking a step away."
The Sun has contacted his rep for comment.
Pete joined the cast of Towie in 2015 and became a series regular in Season 15.
He was friends with co-star James Lock before appearing on the ITVBe show.
He has since been involved in some of the show's major storylines and dated a slew of its glamorous stars.
Pete had failed romances with fellow Towie stars Megan McKenna, Shelby Tribble, and Ella Wise.
More recently he confessed to having a friends with benefits relationship with close pal Chloe Sims.
In December The Sun revealed Pete had locked horns with his fellow Towie stars.
He spoke about an on set feuding causing problems for Towie producers.
Speaking on his Staying Relevant podcast with his good pal Sam Thompson, he said: "Get it right. I’m not barred.
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"You have to say it right because that makes it sound like the show have banned me.
"No, they have refused to film with me. So no one is barred or banned, they could if they wanted to but they don’t want to.
"So ITV Towie have not barred me from filming with people or banned me from filming with people, they just don’t want to film with me, which is worse actually because it effectively means no one likes me, which is understandable.”
